Climate Change, Past Environment and Human Adaptation during the Pleistocene and Holocene Epochs

Climate change is an increasing global challenge, with signs such as unpredictable and shifting rainfall patterns, crop failures, droughts, high temperatures, and growing climate variability already visible. Projections suggest that the severity and trends will escalate in the near future. Research on past and present climate change and its effects on people's lives is limited and lacks coordination. It is now crucial to examine past and current climate patterns in different geographic regions and their impacts on communities using multiple data sources. Understanding past climate changes and the strategies humans used to adapt are vital for comprehending current impacts and for predicting future scenarios.

Continental climates are marked by wide temperature variations and a variety of landscapes. Based on this background, research into past environments and human adaptation strategies varies depending on local and regional conditions, specific research goals, and methodological approaches. Due to the already increasing regional synthesis of research agendas, predictable patterns and trajectories are emerging in the global study of environmental archaeology. The manuscripts to be published in this session of Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology are expected to provide a synthesis that illustrates the current state of research in Pleistocene and Holocene archaeology from different regions globally.

Within the broader scope of Pleistocene and Holocene archaeology and human adaptation strategies, we welcome contributions that utilize various approaches, including but not limited to isotopic analysis, sedimentation, archeobotany, zooarchaeology, geoarchaeology, ethnoarchaeology, and ethnographic studies. Papers emphasizing technological advances, interdisciplinary collaborations, and innovative interpretations of archaeological and environmental data are especially encouraged. This Research Topic offers a platform for researchers to share their findings, discuss methodological challenges, and present new data about the complex interactions between humans and their environments throughout prehistory and historic periods. We invite submissions from scholars at all career levels, including graduate students and early career researchers. We look forward to receiving stimulating manuscripts that enhance our understanding of past environments and human adaptation.

This Research Topic stems from the WAC-10 theme 'Paleoenvironment and Human Adaptation Strategies During the Pleistocene and Holocene'. We highly encourage contributors of the theme sessions to contribute their work from the event in this collection, continuing the discussions started at WAC-10. The collection will also welcome contributors from outside of the event, should the scope align.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Pleistocene, Holocene, environment, culture, Climate adaptation.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.